BSP targets to emerge as decisive third force in Rajasthan

Jaipur, May 12 (UNI) Buoyed by its landslide victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) now targets to emerge as a ''decisive political force'' in the Rajasthan Assembly elections due to be held by the end of 2008.

The party, which presently has two seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, is now gearing itself to emerge as a strong and decisive third force in Rajasthan, party state president Dungar Ram Prajapati said.

Mr Prajapati told UNI that the party had already started its mission for the next assembly elections in all 200 assembly segments of the state.

He said with due representation to Dalits, Muslims, Brahmins and other higher castes, the party aimed to contest all of the 200 assembly seats in the next election.

He said the party had already initiated preparations for the same and its ranks and files would work hard to realise the dreams and aspirations of party supremo Ms Mayawati.

He said the party had fielded 124 candidates in the last elections in 2003 and had performed well. It had won two seats, Bandikui and Karauli and finished second on nine seats and stood third on around 30 other seats.

The BSP has been trying to consolidate its position in Rajasthan for the past 15 years but it was only in 1998 when the party had made its maiden entry into the state legislature sending two members on its symbol.

In 1998, then party state president Jagat Singh Dayma was elected from Bansur in Alwar district while Mr Mahir Azad had won the Nagar seat in Bharatpur district.

In the next 2003 assembly elections, the party had maintained its strength in the new house. This time, party nominee Suresh Meena had won the Karauli assesmbly seat while Murari Meena had wrested the Bandikui seat in Dausa district defeating Congress heavyweight the minister Shailendra Joshi.

It is evident that the party succeeded in devloping some of its pockets in districts adjoining Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The party also gained mass following in districts like Ganganagar, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Dholpur and Alwar, political observers felt.

UNI